Tuesday, October 28, 2008

He received the call



For the past seven months, Matt has been working on applying to the NC State Highway Patrol. The process takes such a long time (I've decided that they are giving a lesson on patience ;( ).Once he contacted them, he received a huge packet of forms that he had to fill out and send back. Once all the packet material was processed and references checked, he had to go to Raleigh for two tests; a written one, and a physical fitness one. The scores on both of those were combined and averaged...he scored a 160 out of 200 points. Then he waited...and waited...and waited. After a bit more time passed, he received a call instructing him to return to Raleigh for a polygraph test. A bit more time lapsed, and he was contacted and scheduled to have a one-on-one interview with a trooper (a Sergeant) in Yanceyville. This was a fairly long session, and more questions asked similar to what was on the polygraph. This officer called our house and interviewed Dave per phone. Dave asked him what he thought Matt's chances were, and the guy answered that he thought Matt would make a good trooper. Another wait ensued, when he was given another one-on-one interview with another trooper (this time a 1st Sergeant.) Both of those went well. After that, he was instructed to return to Raleigh for a medical physical. Next came a psychological evaluation. This involved a questionnaire of 900+ questions along with questioning by a psychologist. After that...wait...wait...wait...

Today the waiting ended. He received a call from headquarters telling offering him a position in the next class to start November 12, and was told that he would be assigned to Dare County once his training was complete. Did he want to accept? He answered yes.

I am so proud of him. It has been a long hard road. Originally out of approximately 600 applicants, 59 were to be chosen for the class. To be one of the 59, one had to pass each test, pass all interviews, and pass the polygraph. Of all that passed everything, the average grade scored in that very first test was considered. The ones that scored the highest were to be the ones chosen. Today, the officer told Matt that because of state budget cuts, the patrol was only offering the class to 48 applicants rather than 59....that they would only be filling retiree positions and not instituting any new positions (one reason they couldn't offer him anyplace closer to home.) So out of 600 or so people, he was chosen to be one of 48.


2 comments:

Ellyn said...

Oh, Ellen, I know you are proud...and probably a little apprehensive. It sounds like you raised yourselves a fine young man. He has the "right stuff".
I will keep him in my thoughts.
Ellyn

Anna said...

So exciting! I am proud of him with you!